Improvement in abdominal and uterine suppoetees



Mns. lELIZIL IHARDING, or ST. LOUIS', MISSOURI,

Letters Patent No. 75,902, dated March 24, 1868.-

IMPROIZBMBNT IN ABDOMINAL AND UTER-INE SUPPORTBRS.

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TO ALL WHOM 1T MAY OONGERN:

Be it known that I, Mrs. ELIHzA J. HARDING, of St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis, and State of Missouri,

have made certain new and useful Improvements in Abdominal and Utcrine'Supporter; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and clear description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. I v

The object of this invention is to produce a supporter which may easily be wornby ladies at seasons of maternity without trouble, pain, or inconvenience, and which will allay or prevent pucrperal disorders of the problpeus variety, and at thesame time will'be equally Well adaptedto severe or chronic cases ofprolapsus uterz'. The apparatus consists of two pads, coupled together by means of elastic bands, which'hold them in theh` proper positions on the person ofthe wearen v To enable those skilled in the art-to make and use my improved abdominal and uterine supporter, I will proceed to describe its cnstructionf and operation.

Figure 1 ofthe drawings is a. perspective view of one ofthe improved apparatus in its distended position as applied to the person of a wearer.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of thevapparatusin another position.

Thelapparatus consists of an anterior pad, A, and a posterior pad, A. The two upper corners ofthe padV A are to be connected with the opposite and corresponding co'i'ners of the pad A by means of the superior bands a, which pass around the exterior sides of the hips, while lthe lower ends of the pads A A are connected together by the inferior bandsa, which pass around the interior sides ofthe hips. The pads A A are to be of leather or vulcanized rubber, and covered with some pliable textile fabric. The pad A is to be somewhat V-sliaperl in form, so as to fit the exterior surface of the pelvs'vz'seera, and thereby be capable of exerting a gentle pressure upon the o8 pubis. The upper or wider end of this pad will extend across the abdomen in a line parallel with the=lowcr ribl The pad A' will be nearly oval in form, and of such a size as will be readily adaptable to the form at the base of the spinalcolumn. The bands a al are to be of some elastic material, and are to lie-secured to the pads by means of the buttons a2, suitableV holes being worked in the said bands for the reception oi the said buttons. Additional h'oles, a3, may be made in thc bandsa a, so asrto fit the apparatus to a form more orless rotuud. Attachments, a4, are to be provided at the base ofthe pads A A', for securing apessary or other simliar device thereto, in case such should have to be wcrn. A diagonal bracing-band, B, should be taken around the exterior part of the hip, so as to bruce the apparatus, and hold it irmly in place. This` bracingstrap is to be secured by buttons, asis clearly shown.

One great improvement in this deviceover all others now in use consists in the arrangement of the pad A', which in this ease not only serves as a point of attachment and supporti'or the pad A, but also serves as a valuable support and counterbrace to the spinal column in vthe vicinity of the kidneys, and thus nids .nature to recuperate its energies in-onc very vital point of weakness.

Having described my invention, what I claim, is`- set forth.

MRS. E.` J. HARDING.

Witnesses: M. RANDOLPH',

R. SUMoN, H. PAULI.

The pads A A and the ,bands a al, when constructed and employed as hereinshown, and for the purpose i 

